Cardiff stand firm over Ledley

23 Jul 2009 08:06:47

Cardiff manager Dave Jones has told Hull City that Joe Ledley will not be allowed to leave in a cut-price deal.
The Tigers have long been linked with a move for the Wales and Bluebirds captain, and boss Phil Brown watched the midfielder play Celtic on Wednesday.
Ledley has only 12 months remaining on his current Cardiff deal, but Jones insists he will still not allow the 22-year-old to leave on the cheap.
Jones said: "I saw Phil (Brown) before he came in. If he pays the money the club are asking, then there isn't a problem. The chairman (Peter Ridsdale) has said that.
"I can't do anything about that if the price is right. If Joe won't sign a contract, then he will go - but we won't let him go cheaply.
"People keep going on about the fact he has got a year left of his contract. I don't see why that should make him any cheaper. I'm astounded when people do that.
"So I say, 'wait a year then.' If we've been offered £6m six months ago, why has his valuation gone down because he has decided to run his contract out?"
Jones added: "I don't see the problem is with us. The problem is with his agent trying to work the oracle a little bit.
"Joe has lost 12 months' money as far as I am concerned by not signing an extension because, if the price still comes in, he would still go.
"That is what happened with Roger Johnson. He signed a new contract and when Birmingham met the price and he wanted to go, then he went."
Regarding Ross McCormack, who is also thought to be a target of Hull, Jones added: "Phil never mentioned Ross to me.
"He or anyone can have a look at them all - but, if they don't come up with what the chairman and football club expect, then they don't go."